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Show . B Thursday, HadsClp May 1, 1997 O.C. bids wing a warm farewell by Col. O.C. Hope 4 19th Fighter Wing Vice Commander I listened to Whitney Houston sing about heroes and I watched a series of slides depicting our wing ! members at work during our Quality Air Force Assessment, and I have to confess that my vision became a little watery. I have told many newcomers about how lucky they are to be joining this wing. The truth is really just the opposite. This wing is lucky to have the people who have chosen to be part of it, and would not enjoy the reputation it does without the contributions each of them has marie HoPe The current members of this wing and many who came before, have shared the bulk of my Air Force career. I have grown and matured over the past 19 years; first with the 508th Tactical Fighter Group and then with the 419th Fighter Wing. I know we are all better people because of the influence this unit exerts upon our lives. Your values of integrity, service and excellence have become a way of life here. We have faced many formidable tasks together during these years. In every case our success has been the result of everyone pitching in and giving 110 percent This is simply the norm for this wing. No matter the challenges which may arise down the road, I am confident that you will not only handle them, but set new standards in the process. You really are my heroes! I salute you all! Though Laurie and I will be looking to new and different challenges in the future, we have been part of this family too long to say that we will ever really leave. This wing and its members will always be a big part of our lives. Our heartfelt thanks to all of you and best wishes always. Sawadee! Focus on professionalism and safety by Maj. Gen. Robert A. Mcintosh Commander, AF Reserve We have lost a number of good people recently in two aircraft accidents. Causes for each are still being determined, and we will change whatever we must to prevent them from happening again. The workload surrounding our support of the Air Force continues to be high. AFRC people are very busy and are deployed to many points Q around the globe. Each of us must ensure that we do our share to accomplish challenging missions in a safe manner, and that we help those working with us consider safety as top priority. With a focus on professionalism and Maj. Gen. Robert A. Mcintosh safety, I am confident we can successfully perform any mission given us. We are in a demanding time. This requires each of us to step up to the challenge and not settle for just good enough. In times like these, it's easy to ask yourself if it's worth it or if we can continue at this pace. Believe me, your contributions and participation are important. It is worth it to the Air Force and the nation! J COMMENTAR Y,...... You hold the key to safety tems. The first is our most important resource: us, the human beings 419th FW Public Affairs Office who perform the maintenance and at the stared Have you ever pages fly the aircraft. The second compoof a technical order and muttered nent that we use to perform our misunder your breath that the person sion is the hardware. This includes who wrote those instructions could all of the physical resources that we not have possibly ever worked on an use to do our jobs including buildaircraft? How about a tool you have ings, vehicles, tools and, of course, used you knew you could design to aircraft. The last component is the be safer and easier to use? If this documentation that governs the way has happened to you, you know we operate and manage our mission. Each of these areas represents a about a subject called human facof opportunities for posimultitude tors. tive cause as the Human error is listed change and improvement. It is in the majority of aviation mishaps. incumbent on each of us to maintain Some sources list the incidence of a critical and analytical view of each human error-causemishaps at 80 piece of equipment and task. As percent. As Air Force professionals, experts "down in the trenches," we have safe practices ingrained in each of you sees operating condiour minds as the way to do our jobs, tions that weren't envisioned when but often, the tools we use to do our the system was developed and fieldjobs were not optimally designed for ed and you know where the opporthe end user or system. This is your tunity for human error can be elimichance to be a human factors engi- nated or reduced. You are the neer and eliminate the opportunity process owners who can make for human error to cause the next changes that enable you to do your mishap. Human factors, also known job faster, cheaper and more effias ergonomics, is the application of ciently. For maintainers, the Quality science and technology in the design process so that the optimum Assurance Office will be glad to system safety and efficiency is help, and of course, your Wing achieved. While the Air Force does Safety Office is always available for its best to equip us with the best consultation and information. weapons systems and support equipment possible, there are many instances where improvement is achievable. You, the experts in the field, are the most likely originators of those changes that make the operation and maintenance of our aircraft more safe and efficient. The or design, redesign, of our systems and processes should focus on the three main components in the operation and Ax,mwMjts,,., of our maintenance 1st Lt. Marc Stitzer, 419th Fighter Squadron complex weapons sys by SSgt. Jim Papasadero d .'.'''iJ Benchmarking leads to fresh ideas for weapons flight by SSgt. Jim Papasadero Cole and TSgt. Patrick Bish went to Luke AFB, Ariz., in search of ways to improve every aspect of their operations in the 466th Fighter Squadron Weapons Flight. What they discovered was a way to drastically improve the safety in their unit. 419th FW Public Affairs Office Looking to leave no stones unturned in preparation for the Quality Air Force Assessment, SMSgt. Gary if Mm ;- II. s - .1 ...... ....... i I While at Luke they learned the value of a weapons shop working directly with its unit safety office. Therefore, Bish and Cole came back with new ideas of how to incorporate the 419th Fighter Wing Safety Office into their operation. With input from the wing's safety office and the other 50 members of their flight, Bish created the "big red TSgt. Patrick Bish safety book" to help the men and women of the and the "big red 466th Weapons Flight to perform their tasks more safely. safety book." The 'The QAFA inspector generals were impressed book and other helpwith the checklist found in the ful ideas are the book," Cole said. This checklist not only focuses on result of a trip to safety while taking care of and its weapons, but it also stresses the human factor in terms of perLuke AFB, Ariz., sonnel taking care of themselves while y as prior to the wing they prepare to deploy. Another initiative to help track safety performance Quality Air Force is the yellow placard that hangs on the door leading Assessment. The out to the flightline, which keeps track of the numbench marking was ber of days without mishap on ground safety and useful for members explosive safety. It also serves as a reminder to of employees to think safety. the 419th In a related area the weapons flight developed a Weapons Flight procedure whereby they have increased the reliability of the weapons release system to 99.8 percent, Photo by SSgt. Jim Papasadero which is higher than Air Combat Command's standard of 98 percent. Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force Advertisements contained herein do not constitute an endorsement photos. by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Hill AFB Utah. Everything advertised is available without regard to race, color, religion, sex or other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. nt F-1- -- I off-dut- ! J HeadsUp is a Reserve supplement to the Hilltop Times, published by Mor Media, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with the Ogden ALC Public Affairs Office. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for Air Force Reserve members of the U.S. military services. Contents of HeodsUp are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the U.S. Government, the |